Airplane simulating attachment for tricycles



p 4, 1956 A. B. BECKER 2,761,689

AIRPLANE SIMULATING ATTACHMENT FOR TRICYCLES Filed Dec. 18, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. new/0e a. EECKEE,

AIRPLANE SIMULATING ATTACHMENT FOR TRICYCLES A. B. BECKER Sept. 4, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec.

FIG. .6.

INVENTOR. Aer/rue s aaaese,

%% Wmm v-fla/r/z'al rbavi TraeA EYs' United States Patent AIRPLANE SIMULATING ATTACHMENT FOR' TRICYCLES This invention relates to tricycles having. stabilizer means being either built-in or removably or permanently attachable to tricycles, and the stabilizer means being in theforms of sectional bodies or integral bodies.v

Among important objects of the invention are to provide decorative and low cost means of converting an ordinary tricycle into the likeness of an airplane, rocket ship, submarine, train, or other desired simulation, so as to achieve such ,simulation without the greater cost of providing a complete miniature vehicle, and without incurring-the greater wind resistance and weight of such a -vehicle;to enable interchangeable use of different bodies on the same tricycle; to provide bodies of this kind in sectional form such that they can be readily removed from a tricycleand stored compactly; to provide bodies of this kind which serve as vertical stabilizers to reduce accidental tipping over of a tricycle and to serve as front and rear bumpers for the tricycle; and to provide bodies of this kind in which safety belts, headrests, back rests, canopies and other safety and protective features can be readily incorporated. Other important objects and advantageous features of 1 the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein, for purposes of illustration rather than limitation, specific em-. bodiments of the invention are set forthin detail;

In the drawings: a

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment involving a sectional body; Figure 2 isa left hand side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2; s

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken-on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; I

Figure 5 is a left hand side elevation, with interior parts in phantom lines, of anotherembodiment of the invention involving an integral body; and

Figure 6 is a top plan view thereof, partly in horizontal section.

Referring in detail to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, and first to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 thereof, the numeral 7 generally designates a conventional tricycle having a rear axle 8 surmounted by a step 9 and having two rear wheels 10, 10. 'The frame of the tricycle includes a fork 11 rising from the rear axle 8 and an upwardly bowed longitudinal-barn extends forwardly from the middle of the fork 1 1. and is joined at its forward end tothe vertical tube 12' in which is journalled the steering post 13. The steering post 13 has a front wheel fork 14 in which is mounted the single front wheel 15. On the upper end of the steering posts 13 are the handle bars 16. The front wheel 15 includes pedal cranks 17 and pedals 18.

The body of Figures 1 to 4, which is generally designated 20, is sectional, and comprises the forward or nose section A, the intermediate or fuselage section B, and the rear or tail section 0.

2,761,689 Patented Sept. 4, 1956 The forward section A comprises a fiat or plate vertical substantially ablong panel 21 having a forwardly and downwardly curving upper edge 22, a substantially perpendicular front edge 23 curved merged thereinto, and a downwardly and rearwardly curved lower edge 24. The edges 22, 23 and 24 are preferably covered by rubber edging 25 for safe contact with persons and objects. A rearmost part of the lower edge 24 is concaved, as indicated at 26, to conform to the contours of the front wheel 15 and a mudguard 27 mounted thereover.

The panel 21 has a straight vertical rear edge 28 which is located a short distance behind the steering post tube 12' which is preferably covered by a rubber edging 28. An irregularly contoured notch 29, extending upwardly from the lower edge 24 of the panel 21, provides operating clearance for the handle bars 16 and provides a forward notch edge 30 whichcan bear against the front of the tube 12' and to which ring clamps 31, 31 are secured which supportably embrace the tube 12', so as to provide apoint of support for the panel 21 on the tricycle 7. The part 32 of the lower edge 24 of the panel 21 behind the notch 29 bears upon the upper side of the frame bar 12 and has ring clamps 33, 33 thereon which embrace the frame bar 12 and whereby a secured point of support for. the panel 21 is provided. a

It will be notedthat the panel-21 prevents either one of. the handles 34, 34 of the handle bars 16 from swinging beyond a safe angle, by acting as a stop therefor, so that upsets due to complete turning of the handle bars 16 are eliminated. A

On a concaved rear part'35 of the upper edge 22 yo the panel 21 is fixed a forward tapered convex-concave dummy windshield 36 which extends laterally beyond the sides of the panel 21. A convex dummy instrument panel 37 is mounted on the edge part 35 within the forward part of the windshield 36.

mHinged, asindicated at 38, to opposite side portions of the rear edge 39 of the windshield 36 are cowling panels or flaps 40, 40. The cowling panels 40, 40 are horizontally elongated and terminate in rounded rear ends 41-, 41 which are located rearwardly of the tricycle seat 42 which is mounted on a rearward part of the longitudinal frame bar 12. The cowling panels 40, 40 are unsecured to the rear body section C or to the intermediate body section B.

The intermediate or fuselage body section B comprises a forwardly and rearwardly elongated, tapered, and round cross section member 43 from which depends a fiat panel 44 having a forward edge 45 contoured to the mudguard 27, a horizontallower edge 46, and a curved upper edge 47 contoured to the underside of the frame bar 12. Forward, intermediate, and rearward ring clamps 48, 49, 50,

and 52 connected by a strut 53 maybe formed on the sides of the panel 44 to give the illusion of airplane wing structure.

The tail or rear body section C comprises a flat plain vertical longitudinal panel 54 of generally triangular, rear- ,wardly tapering shape-Which has an upper edge 55 provided with. a vertical stabilizer fin 56, a straight vertical forward edge portion 57, a forwardly declining lower edge 58, and a projection 59 below the forward edge portion 57. The projection 59 extends forwardly beyond the forward edge portion 57 and has itself a forward edge 60 contoured to the upper side of the frame bar 12 and provided with a ring clamp 61 embracing the frame bar 12. The opposite sides of the panel 54 at the middle height thereof are provided with longitudinal streamlined bulges 62, 62 which afiord the impression of jet exhausts, just as kindred bulges 63, 63 on the opposite A headrest pad 64 may be attached to an upper part of the forward edge portion 57 of the safety--belt65at a-point therebelow.

Diagonal braces-66, 66 are securedpa's indieated 'tic 67, to thejtricycle-step 9 atthe'ends thereof;-'and to tlre l'ower edge 58 -'of the 1 panel '54, their {connectidns' to the-lower edge 58 being at a'point-spaced rearwaidlyfto m'dhfi ar wheels. Any-suitable and desired materials may be employed in; the construction of the above desc'ribed embodirrient of the -invention,--as also in the coiistruction' fif the e'mbodiment of'Fig'ures Sand 6 o't th'e drawingsg hereinafter described, 1 such-as sheet'metal;iplasticsy wtlodg canvas on frames,- or -any--combinations of such inateri'als} nnpenam panel 54, and a considerations-being lightness-'iniweight" and strdc'tur al 7 adequacy. I a

- Referringnow to Fi'gures and- 6 of the -drawifig'sfilie integral-body therein show-n andgener ally designatedflfla; is substantially elliptical in' horiZontallon'gitudinal cross section and cigar-shaped in vertical longitudinal cross section. The body 20a has =a-conica'l forward end or mose 70 I from which the body 20w tapers rearwardly to-"a' rear end-71 which 'is=squaredto -"give the impression of a jet exhaust, the rear end '71= being 'indented, as indicated at 72,72 toaccentuate the impression of.'a jet eiihaust. I --Theb0dy=20a isipreferably in'olded or'otherwis' fabricated in one piece and has-a to'p' wall73"proyided' intermediatetheends of the body with a-sernfiellipti cal;longitudinally extending cockpit' opening 74," whos'e' tapering fcrwa'rd -part is' closed by a-c'onVex-'concave wind'shield 75 which-has a concave r'ear edge'j76. The win'dshi'eld 75 is preferably secured at its side edges 77,'7 7 to'correspondingportions 78;78'o'f the 'side edg'e's o'f the cockpit opening 74. r '7 -'A'- vertical-stabiliier fin 79 rises from the body top-wall 73" behind the cockpit. opening "74 and extends alm'o'st to the-rear end 71. Contoured horizontal 'stabili'zer fins 80, 80, which are preferably hollow} as shbw n in'Figure 6, extend -from=thez opposite sides of 'thebody ;20a-, in 'the region-of the 'Vertical'=stabilizer fin 79 andreach to tlie rear 'end 71 of-the-body20a.

Preferably-hollow contoured =wing 'stubs 81",-"81"-p"ro- V ject laterally from"-the side' walls 82, 82 of the body 20a inthe region of the windshield 75. -The-body 20a cornpletely encloses the up er-warr nt a--tricycle 7i with thej tip- -'83- of 'the nos'e' m positined forwardly of the tricycle front wheel 15, the windshield -Means -for'mounting the body20tr renioyablybi-flier manently-orr-the tricycle 7 -comprises 'a forwafd tr Verse band-or strip-84,- secured as indicated 21 85; fd th'e inner side of the 'body 20a and having avertica1: strut* =86 terminating at its lower end ina rin'g clamp 87 'e1r'1braeing V the tricycle frame bar 12's: $a'point c'lose to the 'stce'ring post-tube 12.

The said mounting means further includes rear' bi a'es" or stgips 'sii, '88 'secured, as indicated at 89, to the inner sideof the body 20a 'atpoints behind the cockpit opening part es the frame 'bar lz above thfrriie fork '11; "In addition,rearwardlyandalpwardly-angnlated-braces-9L,91

having their lower ends secured to opposite ends of the tricycle step 9, as indicated at 92, 92, have their upper ends secured, as indicated at 93, 93 to lower portions of the body side walls 82, 82 at the inner sides thereof.

The underside of the body a is open, as indicated at 95, the opening 95 followingthe general outline of the What isclairned is: I V I 1. In a tricycle, an airplane simulating body therefor comprising a-- nose 'portionadapte'd to projecfiforwardly beyond-the front wheehofi the 1tricycle,-.atfuselageiportion locatedbehind said nose portion and adapted to extend 74','-'and' terminating at their lowr and latrally inward ends! in a ring e'rnbracing' -a' rearward lower between the handlebars' andt the sat of said tricycle, and a tail portion located behind said fuselage portion and adapted to extend rearwardly beyond the rear wheels of said tricycle, each of the said nose, fuselage, andwtail portions bein'g 'sepa'rate' -parts, saidnoseiportioh being a single vertical longitudinal front panel "having fa vertical rear edgeana a loweredge; 'saidlower'dge protfidedjilith a notch adapted to r'e'ceive' the"ste'ering'pos andf'apa'rfiof the liandlebars' of said "tricycle, first clamp "mean's'ons'aid panel a'dap'td to embrace the steering finest" of saidf'trb cycle, and second -'clarn'p means" onsaidfpanehadaptdtd embrace: the longitudihal' bar of' saidtricyclefrariie:

The structure accordin wo claim 1 includingdnaddition -a conveX-concavewindshield mounted on: the up'per part efehe *lohfg itudinal frontpanelofsaid nos portion and reacliirig 'to the vertical rem-edge 6fthfefront pan-e1, said' wiiidshi'eld extending laterally outwardly b'eyo'nd the eppo'sizesides of said front 'panel. v p 4 -3I The structure a'ccording to claim 1% including in' adtlition a convex-concavewindshield mountedon' the upper p'art ofthe longitudinal trons panel 'of 'said'no'se portion andn'es'ching tdthe vertical rear 'edgeof the front panel, saidwindshieldeittndin'g laterally outwardlyfbeyond the app osi't'e 'side's "6f- Said 1 front panel, "s aid" windshield haying a rear edge, and, horizontal"cowlingpanels "having forward ends hinged on the rear edge of the windshield at opposite sides 'of the 'windsliield and 'eitte'ndingrearwardly along opposite sides of-thtricycle'seatas' far assaid'tailpor'tidn. 4. The -S'truct1ire-'-accordingto claim 1' whereinsaid tail portion comprises a single verticaldongitudinal rear panel *ha ing a front vertical edge located' behind" the forward extensiontheifegion ant m/er end of isaid fi'bhfiVertia1- edg-of the rear phelfsaid' ejtte'ns'ionhaving an edge bearing upon the upper sideof s'aid loh'gitfidifial frame-spar e: "-a pointbehind 'tha'satfof said tricycle,

third clamping means on the lower part ofssaid rar'pan'el adapted to= einbrace *"the' longitudinal bariofsaidtricycle frame a'fid depiiding bracef 'Ineansfsje'curedftothe lowe part of said rear paheF-afidadapted tobefiitedto thenear dxlSttfi't-ht ere-aid: tricycle.

,1" iReferences fitted-in and file of this patent earner) swares parents 

